Moscow: Russia considers the political situation in Honduras “unacceptable” and calls on the Honduran leadership to establish order in the country by means of peaceful talks, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
“For us, the illegitimate actions [of the Honduran authorities], even if camouflaged by democratic processes, are unacceptable,” the ministry said in a statement. “We have vigorously condemned the June 28 coup d’etat, advocated the early restoration of the constitutional order in Honduras, called on the opposing sides to abstain from violence and to resolve the conflict by means of peaceful negotiations.”
Presidential elections were held in the country on Sunday, with Porfirio Lobo of the Honduran opposition National Party declared the winner.
President Manuel Zelaya was bundled out of the country in late June by the armed forces, with parliament Speaker Roberto Micheletti taking over the presidency.
The ousted president secretly returned to the country on September 21 and took refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.
Many countries and international bodies gave warning that they would not recognize the election if the polls were held under Micheletti’s presidency, but Peru, Costa Rica, Panama and the United States, which had condemned the coup, have accepted the results.
The Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA), as well as Brazil and Argentina, said they consider the polls illegitimate. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez described the election as a “farce.”
The refusal of the interim government to reinstate Zelaya ahead of the national election had been the main sticking point between the two sides.
The parliament is expected to consider Zelaya’s reinstatement on December 2, but Zelaya said on Sunday “the Congress, which supported the coup, has no authority [to take a decision] concerning my reinstatement.”
“Moscow believes that the wisdom of the Honduran people and regional anti-crisis efforts will help find a resolution that will ensure the democratic development of Honduras within the framework of constitutional legality,” Russia’s Foreign Ministry said.
On Sunday, the secretary general of the Organization of American States, Jose Miguel Insulza, said the OAS Permanent Council comprising 34 states will hold a session on December 4 in Washington to discuss the situation in Honduras.
